I’ve invested years in this buness. My travels have taken me far, and enabled me to build some incredible relationships that I value deeply and will forever hold in high regard. Of course, for every genuinely good character I’ve encountered over time, there’s a handful of deluonal egomaniacs and self-centered pricks running about, eager to thrust their success in the faces of those less fortunate, all the while projecting an arrogance that feels more fit for the cameras than casual conversation (cough, cough Tom Savini).
However, once in a blue moon I stumble across an individual that not only boasts a warm personality, but a demeanor that can only be perceived as an actual heart; you know, those rarities that place pason at the forefront of everything they do, be it for monetary gain or not. Becoming acquainted with warm, likeable personalities may not necessarily be “the norm” in this industry (I’ve had plenty of miserable encounters), but when it happens, it’s memorable, gratifying, and serves as a fine reminder as to why we entertainment journalists, writers and bloggers have opted to travel this specific career path.

Scott Glosserman, co-writer and director of the beloved (and future clasc) slasher, Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon, just so happens to be one of Hollywood’s exceptions: not only is Scott an intelligent, articulate and talented filmmaker, he’s as humble as your favorite next door neighbor, light hearted, and extremely devoted to his craft. He is, by all accounts, the ideal artist, and speaking with the man is an absolute pleasure.

While we’ve only engaged in a few telephone conversations, Scott baffles me continuously, and he does so for all the right reasons. As unbelievable as it sounds, Scott isn’t just humble, he offers no hetation in praing others over himself; almost to the point that his modesty could be mistaken for a minor case of self-deprecation. The man honestly doesn’t seem to grasp how amazing Behind the Mask is, and he’s got no idea how much genre fanatics cherish the picture. We’re talking about a film that injected life into the slasher sub-genre that we haven’t witnessed nce Wes Craven’s 1996 gem, Scream; to hear Scott talk about it, Behind the Mask was little more than a spirited indie flick. This is obviously a man who hasn’t allowed praise to fill his head with self-absorbed aberration.

http://youtu.be/t432rePirH8

Scott’s kept his head about him, and while he may not be viewed in the same regard as filmmakers such as Eli Roth or Rob Zombie, I wouldn’t hetate for the briefest of moments to label him a superior filmmaker to both. Condering the talent that Roth and Zombie (while I’m not a huge fan of Rob’s work, I would never discredit his talents) possess, that’s not only an insane statement, it’s a borderline outlandish feat: this man has all the tools to rule the roost for years to come. Here’s hoping the chips fall in his favor, because if they do, Scott Glosserman is a name horror fans will still confer on decades from now.

As it stands, today, Scott is hard at work on his follow up to Behind the Mask, interestingly titled, Before the Mask: The Return of Leslie Vernon. A self-described “sprequel” (that’s part sequel, part prequel and part remake; think Evil Dead 2… if you will), B4TM promises to be another witty genre offering that will more than likely tote the charm of its predecessor. While Scott’s a long way from wrapping the film, things are moving forward and (per the man himself), the first film’s cast is more than eager to return to the story. For good reason: the first picture is technically masterful and unbelievably enjoyable. Whether or not B4TM garners the same outpouring of acclaim and support that were hoisted upon the first feature remains to be seen. However, one way or another I’ll be pulling for this film, and I’ll be pulling for Scott himself, horror’s truly humble hero.

Stay tuned, as we'll be hitting you with a full hour long interview with Scott during episode four of The Ball and Chain Show; the entire podcast is dedicated to the blossoming Leslie Vernon franchise and the genius tucked away in the channels of Scott's brain
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Matt_Molgaard
Wednesday 12/28/2011 at 01:22 AM | 88688

Behind the Mask was AWESOME!!! I really hope B4TM gets the greenlight too... It's great to see that there are still great filmmakers who don't let it get to them.

Kidtut
Wednesday 12/28/2011 at 01:36 AM | 88689

Great article Matt as usual, will it beat the Norman Reedus story? :)~